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Staff who provide talking therapies to people living with common mental health problems are using Time to Talk Day to encourage Doncaster residents to talk about mental health.

The Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) team at the Talking Shop and the IAPT Long Term Conditions team will be at Thorne Library, in the Vermuyden Centre, Field Side, Thorne, Doncaster, DN8 4BQ, between 12.30pm and 2.00pm.

This IAPT service is run by Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust (RDaSH).

Staff will be on hand to chat to residents about how they can support them to manage anxiety, depression, stress, panic, low self-esteem, phobias, bereavement, mild eating disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of life changes and chronic long term health conditions.

Tim Godley, RDaSH Team Leader at the Talking Shop, said: “We are using Time to Talk Day to encourage everyone to take time out to chat about mental health. There will be plenty of top tips and information to pick up which is designed to get people talking and start conversations.”

One in four people will experience a mental health problem in any given year. Time to Talk Day provides the opportunity to start conversations about mental health to bust myths and break down the barriers that people experiencing a mental health problem can face.

Joanne Goulding, RDaSH Team Leader for IAPT Long Term Conditions, said: “Having a long term physical health condition can make people feel depressed, anxious and stressed. We provide support to help them to manage and cope with their condition.”

Dr David Crichton, local GP and Clinical Chair, NHS Doncaster Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “This is a good opportunity for local people to speak with health and care professionals about their mental wellbeing.

“We know that many people find it hard to recognise and talk about how they feel, so this informal, friendly way of encouraging people to talk is a great start.”

This Talking Therapy service is available to anyone over the age of 18 by telephoning the IAPT Talking Shop on 01302 565556 or IAPT Long Term Conditions on 01302 566999 or visit iapt.rdash.nhs.uk for more information.